Online Educational EMS Lessons Launched

GLOBAL - The Responsible Aquaculture Foundation (RAF) has developed four online educational modules to help the global shrimp-farming industry better manage early mortality syndrome (EMS). The modules are now available for public consumption.

Organized within a course called “Managing Early Mortality Syndrome in Shrimp,” the modules, or lessons, cover the critical aspects of farm and hatchery management, including biosecurity, feeding and proper pond management, and recommend strategies to reduce organic loading, employ EMS-resistant broodstock and co-stock shrimp with tilapia.

RAF is providing the online course to help alleviate the impacts of EMS, which has cost the global shrimp industry more than $1 billion per year for the past several years.

The development of the online educational modules dates to 2012, when the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) and RAF spearheaded a case study on EMS that acted as a foundation for recommendations to the aquaculture community for better shrimp-farming practices.

“The internet provides instant access to information on virtually any topic, but the sheer volume of information and range of opinions can be daunting, confusing, and even misleading,” said RAF President George Chamberlain.

“Building on its international studies and expert committees, RAF is developing a series of courses that provide clear authoritative information and best practices.”

The current online educational modules address:

The EMS Pathogen

Diagnosing EMS

Hatchery Management of EMS

Farm Management EMS

Other educational materials are currently being developed by RAF to help the industry better manage animal diseases like EMS. Eventually, RAF aspires to develop educational materials that address the full range of aquaculture topics with embedded learning checks and certificates for completion.